RUMOURS DU JOUR

Dallas GM Jim Nill has been actively working the phones trying to make changes and has shopped C Vernon Fiddler. Making $1.8 million through 2013-14, I’m told the Maple Leafs looked at the possibility of bringing in Fiddler in a third or fourth-line role but decided they didn’t have the cap space to make that move.

Fiddler is an effective player if the Stars want to find him a new hole they will … It would be surprising if defenceman Matt Niskanen finishes the season with the Penguins. With a cap hit of $2.3 million, he is set to become a UFA and it’s believed GM Ray Shero has been sniffing around to see what he might be able get in return. After signing defenceman Kris Letang to a massive extension last summer, there likely isn’t any room to keep Niskanen and he should be able to bring a good return if Pittsburgh decides to make the move … Columbus coach Todd Richards is on the hotseat. Since taking over last year, Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen hasn’t played the coach firing card and the club has taken a step back this year. The only guy who can save Richards job is goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and he has to stop the puck.